What is your favourite UK MTB tyre combo for Trail/Enduro?

I was just wondering what tyre combination you guys are running or what has been your favourite and also do you run the same tyres all year round or do you switch them out for summer or winter season ?

I do switch tyres but if I could only have one set all year, Argotal on the front, and a kryptotal or dhr2 on the back. They’re fast enough to not be a total disaster in summer or for easier stuff, and they’re grippy enough to work all year (though not quite as grippy as I like, in winter)

But swapping is good… Shorty maxxgrip for winter horror, it is basically cheat mode but it pedals like it’s square. DHR2 maxxgrip front is ace in summer, more outright grip and faster. And I love a rockrazor rear, so fast. Not a huge amount of grip mind, but more than you’d think to look at it.

For trails

Specialized Butcher 2.6 front

Specialized butcher 2.3/ purgatory 2.6/ specialised semi slick 2.3

For uplift

Specialized butcher 2.6 but in their t9 sticky compound.

They were almost all 50% off, but are all decent tires.

My spare wheels have dhr2 and they are also decent.

Theres a shorty 2.3 and 2.4 if it gets horrible, but they are so slow it has to be more of less liquid mud to put them on.

Maxxis Assgeai front and rear all year round on the E-mtb

I cant be arsed to swap tyres when the weather changes and the E-mtb is the only bike that gets used all year round

In the spring/summer/autumn i can ride hardpack, rooty, chalky, rocky, flinty & loamy trails all on a single ride and still have a chance of mud!

Hill billy t9 on the front butcher t7 on the rear. For ebike and enduro bike. Butcher butcher for hard tail. Ride the same trails on them.

Pace came with maxxis which lasted two rides. Rear punctured so swapped front for back and put butcher in front, next ride rear punctured so butcher on rear. Been fine for a couple of years.

Assegai Front and DHR on the rear. I’ve got a Kryptotal to put on the front just to see what all the fuss is about.

WTB Vigilante front (tough/high grip) with WTB Trail Boss rear (tough/fast rolling).

Occasionally a DHR2 on the rear if I need a bit more all out grip.

Tried a few different options over the last few years, but keep coming back to these.

Magic Mary up front and a Nobby Nic in the back. All year round.

I was on Maxxis, but Specialized tyres are so well priced in comparison, that’s what I’ve moved to.

Magic Mary on front and Hand Dampf on rear – although I don’t have tyres for types of riding, I put them on and ride them until they need replaced…but these seem to work well.

I’ve had a Dhr2 maxxgrip on the front for the last year or two and really like it and a 2.6 dhf on the rear because I’m tight and swapped it from front duties because it was getting a bit worn. Like it for the volume and comfort on the hardtail. Just bought a full suss which came with Vittoria Mezza, race front and trail(?) rear. Very grippy but they did feel a bit draggy on my first ride but can I be bothered changing?

I was running a Minion DHR 2 up front with a Rock Razor on the back pretty much all year round. I used to run DHF fronts on pretty much everything, but there isn’t a 29″ x 2.4, so DHR. Mostly riding in the Dark Peak, so it’s rocky, gritty and sludgy rather than properly muddy. Just stuck a Tacky Chan on the front, but haven’t ridden it yet because, weather-induced trail hibernation.

Also have a lighter set of wheels which seem to have a Racing Ralph 2.25 out back and a Wolf Pack something on the front, but they’re reserved for dryness. There’s also an XR4 lying about for lighter front with grip. And a 2.4 Rekon and a Dissector. And something else Wolfpack. And some lethal Michelin race tyres.

The hardtail runs 650b+ and has a 2.8 DHF up front and a Rekon Plus 2.8 out back, but will be Rekon 2.8 front and Rock Razor 2.6 rear if it ever dries out.

I’m not fit enough to pedal big downhill tyres with soft compounds round here. And neither, judging from most of the people I see on the trail, are many of the riders using them… 😉

I’d rather give up some rear end bite in exchange for liveliness / speed / not feeling like I’m pedalling a tractor tyre through deep mud on every climb 🙂

Kryptotal super soft DH front, Kryptotal soft enduro rear. This combo has seen me through summer, an alps trip, sloppy winter and now into spring.

I maybe should’ve got a shorty or argotal over the wet winter but it was okay still.

Edit: I’d have the front in a lighter casing if it was available, but it’s not and the DH isn’t too too heavy at 1300g ish.

Edit: I’d have the front in a lighter casing if it was available, but it’s not and the DH isn’t too too heavy at 1300g ish.

That seems quite ‘too heavy’ to me, but I guess it’s all relative. Should people maybe say what bike/travel they’re running as well so there’s some sort of context? What’s overkill on a short-travel bike could be totally reasonable on a big, long-travel rig. Also, arguably ‘trail/enduro’ can be quite different things.

There’s lots of people riding/lumbering around on downhill-specific tyres for ‘enduro’ stuff/bikes(?) that are arguably overkill for any sort of ‘trail riding’ that involves undulation in any significant quantity. I guess it begs the question of where ‘trail’ ends and ‘enduro’ begins, outside of competition anyway.

That seems quite ‘too heavy’ to me, but I guess it’s all relative. Should people maybe say what bike/travel they’re running as well so there’s some sort of context? What’s overkill on a short-travel bike could be totally reasonable on a big, long-travel rig.

This is on a 160/160 Transition Sentinel so definitely more enduro than trail. In my opinion this tyre rides “lighter” feeling than you’d think because it rolls well. I came to it from a max grip assegai though so that’s my point of reference.

My hardtail has a T9 butcher on the front which is about 1000g and I can’t perceive a weight difference, I think it’s more down to compound than casing weight for me at least.

If you don’t like to swap, then a Magic Mary on the front is hard to beat as a UK all conditions tyre. Rear is still up for debate IMO as it’s less important.

If you do swap then I love a Shorty on the front in winter conditions.

Magic Mary orange on the front and then, if I can be bothered and the world dries out a little, will use a Rock Razor on the rear.   Very fast tyre and surprisingly grippy. I have a Rimpact in the rear for a bit of support as I’m clumsy over drainage bars.  Then usually use a Nobby NOC or Hans Dampf on the rear when it’s gloopierer.

All in 27.5 flavour, so cheap as chips!

Assegai or dhf on the front and hr2 on the back.
I do have mud tyres if it is really horrific on the ht

Ground control f+r in summer, dhf & dissector in winter.

Mary in the front.

Betty in the back.

reliable girls.

Kenda Hellkat Enduro F / Conti Kryptotal Enduro R

Used to swap to a Hillbilly for winter but the Hellkat is better for wet roots & rocks, and decent enough in mud to not bother.

Current tyre flavours of the month for me, are

Winter: argotal dh supersoft on the front, and Kryptotal rear enduro soft.

Summer : Kryptotal front enduro soft on front, and xynotal enduro soft of the rear.

160mm low powered ebike.

Argotal front and Kryptotal on the rear, half fat ebike so don’t really notice too much drag.

Winter I rather like an ultrasoft mary along with the previous summer front tyre that needs to be worn out on the back.

In summer, I dislike marys as they squirm on hard terrain. I often use a Magi-X wild enduro, and I want to try a maxxgrip DHR after I disliked the maxxterra leant over on loose stuff but liked the braking grip.

On the rear I like a wild enduro rear for the summer, or a maxx-terra DHR.

I am weighing up either a set of the new-style michelin wild enduros or a pair of tacky chans for the summer, whatevers cheapest in a month or so tbh.

Pirelli Scorpion Enduro M front, best tyre I’ve ever had on roots in the wet or dry, less outright grip than a Mary in dirt, but when it breakaway it drifts beautifully rather than letting go.

Pirelli Scorpion DH T rear, very similar to the Betty and DHR 2.

dc1988
Full Member

If you don’t like to swap, then a Magic Mary on the front is hard to beat as a UK all conditions tyre.

Honestly it’s a really good tyre and it’s had a good run but price aside the Argotal is just better at everything all the time ime. The enduro/soft has comparable grip to the ultrasoft mary, but rolls as well as the soft version. Better carcasses too imo, never been tempted to go “up” a carcass like I did with Schwalbe, though I think maybe not as well damped.

Bloody expensive mind.

Magic Mary soft on the front, Big Betty rear. I put a nobby nic speed grip on the back when it dries up. The Mary stays on all year round

Hardtail has DHF up front and a hams dampf super gravity at the back cos that was the thickest casing I had, to avoid punctures on winter night rides

Currently on various do-it-all bikes…

Maxxis DHF 29 x 3.0 F / Maxxis Ardent 27.5 x 2.8 R – burly FS enduro bike

WTB Vigilante 27.5 x 2.8 F / Continental X-King 27.5 x 2.8 R – all-rounder HT

Spesh Purgatory 29 x 2.3 (ish) F / Spesh Ground Control 29 x 2.3 (ish) R – XC FS

Happy with all of those.

I’ve got 2 sets of wheels, one has Argotal front and Kryptotal rear for winter and softer conditions, the other has Kryptotal front and Xynotal rear all enduro soft compound.  Previously run maxxis exo and specialized grid trail but had to run an insert to avoid pinch punctures but no issues with the continental enduro casing so far. The continental tyres really do roll well and I’d rather take a bit of extra weight without worrying about punctures.

Minion front, High Roller rear. Run that setup on my bikes for years and years and years and its just what I know. Had a very brief dabble with Schwalbe tyres front and back on a previous bike and it felt like riding on ice – soooo different.

 but Specialized tyres are so well priced in comparison, that’s what I’ve moved to.

What are the newer Spesh tyres like? My Enduro came with a set on it (obvs) and they lasted maybe two rides; horrid things, that was 5 years ago though.

Magic Mary ultra soft on the front, Big Betty soft on the rear.

I’ve had Nobby Nics front and rear for a few years now which cover all manner of conditions. For really crappy conditions I’d put a Shorty on the front, or if really dry a Rock Razor on the rear. Although the last time I used a RR I was very aware the lack of grip, which I hadn’t been in previous times using one. I think I was pushing its limits in steeper, not-totally-dry conditions. Still, good fun.

Bontrager XR4 2.2s year round for me. Bit of a sod to get them to sit properly on some rims, but judicious use of washing up liquid usually sorts them. Robust, last well, not too heavy

Magic Mary 2.6 Ultra Soft up front and 2.4 Hans Dampf Soft rear – both in Super Trail casing most of the year.  The front is amazing and the rear is ok – it’s fast enough but loses a bit in slop as the knobbles are a bit close.  I don’t ride too much mud so it’s not really an issue.

Summer the Rock Razor comes out for the back and the bike is super fast.

I bought a few variations of Schwalbe casing in the winter sales for more aggressive terrain for the summer but have yet to ride them.  I’m looking forward to riding the full DH Mary/Big Betty combo in the mountains. ;o)

The Schwalbes replace my old long term Maxxis DH combo which was DHF 2.5WT Maxxgrip front and Exo+ DHR rear with a Minion SS for summer.  I can’t imagine they were in the best of condition after 5 years+ so it’s not a direct comparison but the Schwalbes are better – I’m a definite convert for now.

These are on a 160/150 very much Enduro type bike.

What are the newer Spesh tyres like? My Enduro came with a set on it (obvs) and they lasted maybe two rides; horrid things, that was 5 years ago though.

Almost completely different.  I have been very impressed with Butcher T9 Grid Trail and Eliminator T7 Grid Trail.

They are my go-to for year round trail/Enduro riding.

Should people maybe say what bike/travel they’re running as well so there’s some sort of context

More importantly whether it’s an Ebike and/or just used for uplifts smashing out DH laps.

There’s a big difference to pedalling around getting on for 3kg of the heaviest tyres on sale with softest compounds when you have got a motor/uplift to back it up!

I usually run the same all year round as I mai6ride at the local  trail centre.

Bontranger xr4 front and xr2 rear

Or minion front and rock razor rear when my OCD allows me to mix brands.

If I ran the same tyres all year round the Conti Kryptotal front / Enduro / Soft and Kryptotal rear / Trail / Endueance. Roll alright, handle hardpack and mud fairly well, plenty of cornering grip etc.

But I’m a tyre nerd so actually I do:

Proper Winter slop – Hillbilly / Kryptotal rear

Middling Winter slop – Kryptotal / Kryptotal

Summer and ok ish trail conditions / Kryptotal / Xynotal.

That’s all on my full suss bike which is a 160/155 Transition Sentinel with Lyriks, Cascade link and Coil.

Hardtail has a mixture of tyres I got cheap:

Magic Mary / DHF / Wild Enduro fronts

Hans Dampf / Rock Razor rears

I’ve near enough always gone with a DHF up front and then something as fast as possible on the back that still retains some climbing and braking traction. I get on well with a Rekon Race in the dry(ish).

I was fairly committed to a DHR on the back for a whillong time because it was just awesome at everything. Well, everything except rolling well and being easy to pedal. It’s fine for rides that are a few hours but all day rides were just murderous and as that’s what I tend to do these days, it had to go.

I found the Dissector was a really good alternative that gave up almost nothing to the DHR in terms of braking and climbing but weighed less and rolled faster. I imagine the DHR corners better but I corner like a wimp so I never noticed.

Recently went down a Bontrager shaped rabbit hole with an SE5, SE6 and XR4.

Didn’t like the SE5 at the front. Too sideways in the mud and too skittish in the dry. I’ll try it on the back at some point. SE6 is good up front but draggy and probably (definitely) way more tyre than I need. XR4 on the back is ok. Not as good as the Dissector but again, lighter and slightly faster.

Should have just stuck with the DHF/ Dissector combo.

Saying that, I’m keen to try the Specialized butcher/ hillbilly combo that everyone says works so well.

Oh, and the hans dampf/ MM combo, the kryptotal and the pirelli scorpion.

When will it end?